07/18/22 – Radically Rational

07/18/22

I largely agreed with Rory McIlroy’s post-Open assessment that he really didn’t do much wrong on Sunday at St. Andrews. He didn’t. He was solid. But Super beat Solid. And that’s why we love world-class competition. Cameron Smith’s string of five straight back-nine birdies was stunning and historic. And that 14^th club in Smith’s bag was not a putter, it was a magic wand. It was a light saber.

Yes, bad shots should be punished, especially in major tournaments on historic courses. But why should GOOD shots be randomly punished? Those moon-crater, pothole, brick-reinforced bunkers placed randomly in the MIDDLE of fairways make no sense to me. Avoiding them has nothing to do with skill. Nothing. And whether a drive ends up in one reflects nothing other than chance. Punish bad shots. Do not punish good shots.

So, yeah, once The Open was over (early in the U.S.), I hung with NBC for coverage of the World Track and Field Championships in Eugene. I’m glad I did. I was into it. Them was some bad boys and girls in the qualifying heats of the 400. And the men’s 10K was 27 minutes of intensity.

Thirty five-year-old Jamaican mom Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won the women’s 100. Read that sentence again.

Oh, and Fred Kerley from Taylor, Texas is now The World’s Fastest Human.

Tough break for Philadelphia Eagles WR Devon Allen, who DQ’ed on a (very close) false start in the 110 hurdles. Allen was disappointed, but cool. He says he’ll just grab his helmet and head to training camp.

Yes, as an Astros fan, I get greedy. Blew a 3-0 lead at home to the A’s? Not a great way to head into the break.

Here’s what I know about the baseball draft. Nothing.

I applaud Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson, who has renounced the use of “AR-15” as his nickname and personal brand. (A.R. are his initials and his jersey number is 15.) Adopting that moniker was highly questionable to begin with, but the young man has now done the right thing. That’s generally all I ever ask.

All hail the Boys of Summer, the Portland Trail Blazers.

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Paul's Bio

I clearly have the attention span of your median fruit fly.Look! Airplane!

Sorry. I’m back.

It’s both a curse and a blessing. I’ve never bought this stuff about, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” But I do think that a wide range of life experiences helps us grow as people, and helps us better relate to other people. I’ve been fortunate. And I am beyond grateful.

I show up on time. I go like hell. I’m a good listener. I hold myself accountable. I own my mistakes. And I have a natural and an insatiable curiosity. I’m never afraid to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t. But then I try to find out.

The flip side is I’m a lousy ballroom dancer and my clothes sometimes fit me funny.

Stuff matters to me. I care. But while I take that stuff seriously, I try hard to never take myself seriously. As a result, I have sometimes been told, “Paul, it’s hard to tell when you’re serious and when you’re just having some fun. Which is it? Serious or fun?”

My answer is “yes.” But I think that is a legitimate criticism. I promise I’m going to work on that.

This has been the quickest and strangest half-century I’ve ever experienced. During that period, I’ve been afforded amazing opportunities in news and sports journalism across all platforms. I have taught wonderful students at the high school and collegiate level. Always, I learned more from them than they did from me. I’ve been a high school administrator. I spent ten seasons as a high school varsity football coach. I’ve been an advertising executive. I’ve hosted nationally syndicated television entertainment shows. In maybe the biggest honor I ever received, I was selected by NASA to be “Chet The Astronaut” for the “Land The Shuttle” simulator at Space Center Houston. (All I can say there, is “Do as I say, not as I do.” I put that thing in the Everglades more often than not.) Most recently, I just wrapped up a decade as a television news director, during which time our teams distinguished themselves in holding the powerful accountable, achieving both critical and ratings success.

What does all that mean? It means I am profoundly grateful. It also means I’m ready for “next.” So here we are. Radically Rational. It’s an idea I woke up with in 2017. I scribbled “Radically Rational” on a piece of notebook paper and used a magnet to stick it on our refrigerator. I saw it every day, and it just would not leave me alone.

I am second in charge at Radically Rational, LLC. My wife, Jo (also known as BB), is the president. Clearly, I have failed in my attempt to sleep my way to the top of this organization.

I hope you will learn that I’m loyal as a Labrador. But I will admit that this doggie can bite every now and then. My promise to you? I will show up on time. I will go like hell. I will listen to you earnestly and attentively. I will hold myself accountable. I will never be the least bit hesitant to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t.

But then I’ll try to find out. Let’s do it.